More on this

This might be late to the party, but then again, college conference expansion knows no season. For the longest time I’ve made the point that the ACC needs Notre Dame. But, the more I think about it, the more I see it as a band-aid, not a permanent solution.

Yes, ND brings a national following to the party, which means lots and lots of money. They are the athletic department that Florida State has clamored for, one with enough power that would point out that football is more important than basketball to the other schools in the conference. In theory, they would bring Fort Knox money to the league, which is good for all of the members…in theory.

But there is one small problem. Notre Dame doesn’t care about anyone else.

They won’t agree to split the pie evenly. Why would Notre Dame give up a deal that pays them 100% of the earnings? So, if the ACC lands the Irish and NBC in the process, the rest of the conference will be behind them every year in financial earnings. How long will school presidents stand by and see the Irish raking in more cash than their programs before someone gets upset and threatens to bolt to another conference?

On the flip side, what will stop ND from leaving if they get a better offer? A buyout clause would mean nothing to the Irish; it might take them a week to come up with the money to jump to a different conference.

Notre Dame doesn’t want to be lumped into the same category as NC State, Carolina, Clemson and Wake Forest, and the rest. They have been independent for too long to be judged by a conference’s standards. Does anyone think that the ND administration is going to let others tell them what to do? Notre Dame will not play by the ACC’s rules, they will try to enforce their own.

The Fighting Irish will look to gain an advantage everywhere. You can expect them to kick and scream to get their way. Inviting the rich kid with all the cool toys to come over seems great. When that kid shows up and you find out he doesn’t share, that makes for a bad playmate. The ACC will have a hard time making an only child see why it is better to help out its siblings instead of getting everything they want.

Much like everything in life, this isn’t an absolute, there is a chance that the Irish make the ACC a powerhouse. But, it should be pointed out that just adding Notre Dame doesn’t make the ACC a better football conference. The ACC has enough average-to-slightly-above-average football teams dwelling in its midst. Notre Dame isn’t winning a national title anytime soon. While they are better on the field than most of what the conference already has, the Irish aren’t good enough to go toe-to–toe with the SEC and win. When it is all said and done is the ACC’s biggest problem: there just aren’t any national championship caliber teams.

Waking up the echoes sounds like a good idea, until that is the only thing that you hear. Adding the Irish will bring in more money, but say it with me, it will also bring more problems. More problems is not something that the ACC needs right now.

conrad27713Jun 15, 2012

View quoted thread

If we're going to lose programs because they are unhappy with our TV contract, and that is allegedly the case here, then to fix it we need to improve our TV contract. And adding more teams achieves that.

So I think we do need to add a Notre Dame, so we can fix the root of the problem.

— Posted by TruthBKnown Banned Again02

TBK, The root of the problm for ACC fball is not just the TV deal or deals, but more about their teams being able to beat the Tex, Bama, LSU, USC, Okla. etc, which ND cant beat eierr. So the ACC need to stop bring in 25 to 30 yrs has been teams of the past to fix ACC fball.

VT1994HokieJun 12, 2012

View quoted thread

I don't mean to sound cynical, but I feel certain that it has nothing to do with who they "like" to play. It's about money. They make more money as an independent. If they could make more money in a conference, they would join a conference. I think it's as simple as that.

— Posted by TruthBKnown Banned Again02

I agree about the money. I wrote this on the first page. ND has one of the best situations in the Country.

TruthBKnown Banned Again02Jun 12, 2012

View quoted thread

ND doesn't want it. They don't need it. They like to play with people from all Conferences. It only ups their market.

— Posted by VT1994Hokie

I don't mean to sound cynical, but I feel certain that it has nothing to do with who they &quot;like&quot; to play. It's about money. They make more money as an independent. If they could make more money in a conference, they would join a conference. I think it's as simple as that.

TruthBKnown Banned Again02Jun 12, 2012

View quoted thread

I have asked this one a few times previously...why didn't Swofford talk to WVU? Look at the distance in travel. Look at the the fans. Look or don't look...the academia doesn't have one thing to do with this one. Maybe some politics that rubbed someone wrong did IT though.

— Posted by VT1994Hokie

Are you sure we didn't &quot;look&quot; at WVU and decided they were not a good fit (academically, etc.)?

VT1994HokieJun 11, 2012

View quoted thread

If we're going to lose programs because they are unhappy with our TV contract, and that is allegedly the case here, then to fix it we need to improve our TV contract. And adding more teams achieves that.

So I think we do need to add a Notre Dame, so we can fix the root of the problem.

— Posted by TruthBKnown Banned Again02

ND doesn't want it. They don't need it. They like to play with people from all Conferences. It only ups their market.

VT1994HokieJun 11, 2012

I have asked this one a few times previously...why didn't Swofford talk to WVU? Look at the distance in travel. Look at the the fans. Look or don't look...the academia doesn't have one thing to do with this one. Maybe some politics that rubbed someone wrong did IT though.

HammerheadJun 11, 2012

View quoted thread

Frank Cady, 96, a character actor who played Hooterville general-store proprietor Sam Drucker on the TV sitcoms “Green Acres” and “Petticoat Junction,” died Friday at his home in Wilsonville, Ore., said his daughter, Catherine Turk. No specific cause was given. RIP.

— Posted by NCSU84

Hank Kimball was comic gold.

NCSU84Jun 11, 2012

Frank Cady, 96, a character actor who played Hooterville general-store proprietor Sam Drucker on the TV sitcoms “Green Acres” and “Petticoat Junction,” died Friday at his home in Wilsonville, Ore., said his daughter, Catherine Turk. No specific cause was given. RIP.

DurhamDevilJun 11, 2012

View quoted thread

It's a DUMP for sure. A lot like Durham.

— Posted by backnblack1969

OK, then, Cowboy...keep your azz in Texas. You sure don't wanna mess with this Durham crowd, know what I mean?

TruthBKnown Banned Again02Jun 11, 2012

If we're going to lose programs because they are unhappy with our TV contract, and that is allegedly the case here, then to fix it we need to improve our TV contract. And adding more teams achieves that.

So I think we do need to add a Notre Dame, so we can fix the root of the problem.